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MOGADISHU,
Somalia, June 04, 2009 – Embattled Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed
vowed Thursday to fight insurgents to the bitter end, as fresh clashes
erupted south of the capital.
"We will fight to death until peace is assured," Sharif told reporters
as his forces and hardline Islamist militants exchanged mortar fire in
parts of the capital.
Sharif spoke after talks with clerics from a moderate but influential
Sufi religious sect who pledged to take up arms to shore up his
administration.
"From now on we are ready to stand by the government of Sharif Sheikh
Ahmed. We will defend it and we will fight the rebels," Sheikh Ali Dhere
said after meeting the president.
The Ahlu Sunna wal Jamaa sect is a national Sufi movement which had not
been known to engage in armed action in recent years.
But some of its members in a region near the border with Ethiopia in
January took up arms against the Shebab, whose ideology is closer to the
more rigorous Wahabi brand of Islam.
Fighting Thursday spread to several neighborhoods in southern Mogadishu,
after government forces using anti-aircraft weapons and mortar shells
targeted insurgents' positions.
"Our forces are advancing onto the rebel-controlled positions in Hodon
district. Two of our soldiers were injured so far," said Abukar Adan, a
Somali government security officer.
Witness Farah Mohamed also reported heavy clashes and seeing several
wounded civilians.
"I saw seven civilians who were injured near Albaraka. Mortar shells hit
several locations in the neighborhood," he told AFP.
"The government forces in armed vehicles attacked the rebel positions
near Tarbunka and Kpp, there was heavy exchange of mortars and
anti-aircraft weapons, " said Abdulahi Madobe, a local resident.
Backed by African peacekeepers securing the presidential palace, as well
as the sea port and the airport, Somali government forces launched a
counter- offensive almost two weeks ago and regained some ground.
Source: AFP, June 04, 2009
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